FR protection is engineered to withstand a lot of wear and tear, which means apparel can withstand several visits to the washer. MCR Safety doesn’t provide laundry service or administer uniform inspections. However, we do provide laundry instructions for the specific fibers utilized, as different fibers require specific laundering procedures to remain effective. This is excellent news for many, as FR garments can be washed at home using your standard washer and dryer. Here are some of the most important factors to consider when you’re ready to wash your FR apparel:
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Keep in mind, the employer is responsible for the maintenance and inspection of ARC-rated clothing. OSHA 1926.95 states, “Protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers, shall be provided, used, and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition wherever it is necessary by reason of hazards of processes or environment, chemical hazards, radiological hazards, or mechanical irritants encountered in a manner capable of causing injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body through absorption, inhalation or physical contact.”
The employer is responsible for both laundering FR clothing and for providing training on proper laundering procedures.
To comply with 1926.95, the employer cannot simply instruct employees to follow the PDF instructions we’ve created. Companies must ensure that FRC is adequately maintained in a reliable condition for hazard performance against flash fires, arc flashes, and combustible dust. Ultimately, this means the employer is responsible for ensuring that the FR garment is laundered and that contaminants such as dirt and oil will not affect its performance. Employers must also train their employees in proper laundering procedures and techniques and continue to inspect clothing on a regular basis. To discuss FR clothing option with our MCR Safety field representatives, we encourage you to schedule a 360 visit for your entire facility. We can discuss all PPE hazards, laundering, and upcoming new technology.
Keep in mind, an FR garment needs to replaced if there are tears or holes, stains from a flammable substance are evident, or the garment has come into contact with bleach.
You can either view more from ASTM regarding laundering standards, or you can check our Laundering PDF for the fabrics MCR Safety uses in its FR clothing.
For those who require a little bit more technical FR information, such as FR fabrics and FR standards, you’ll notice below links to our FR Knowledge Center. You can directly navigate to the resource page for that specific topic from here.
You’ll also notice below an image to our entire online FR Clothing catalog! Click the image to start viewing our FR product assortment and begin filtering products to your specific needs. From here, you can also jump directly to MCR Safety gloves, MCR Safety glasses, and MCR Safety Hi-Vis garments.
Click one of the links below to learn more about that topic.
